longisland

A woman knocked unconscious in a car accident was narrowly able to escape her burning car thanks to a pair of good Samaritans and two Suffolk police officers.

Authorities say Stephanie McNamee, of Holbrook, was unconscious following a three-car crash on Middle Country Road in Lake Grove when her Ford Focus caught fire.

Arthur Ward, of Bay Shore, says he leapt into action as the flames began to spread.

"I ran and tried to open the door ... I couldn't get the door open," says Ward.

Ward was joined moments later by officers David Vlacich and Brian Bordreaux, as well as fellow bystander David Ayala.

Ayala was handed a fire extinguisher and tried to put out some of the flames. The windows on the car were broken and the men tried to pry open the passenger door, but were driven back by the heat. They then managed to open the driver-side door and unbuckle McNamee's seat belt.

"The flames were coming up from the dashboard so I just reached in the car, put the driver in like a bear hug and just started yanking her out of the car," says Vlacich.

The group continued to pry at the door and pull on McNamee until they finally got her out. The car was nearly consumed by flames when they did.

McNamee is listed in critical condition at Stony Brook University Medical Center. News 12 Long Island has learned the other drivers involved in the crash are going to be OK. None of the rescuers were injured.

A woman knocked unconscious in a car accident was narrowly able to escape her burning car thanks to a pair of good Samaritans and two Suffolk police officers.    Authorities say Stephanie McNamee, of

Long Island

LI | Weather

LIFORECAST

At least we'll have that sunshine to kick off your Thursday. So in the morning, we're in the twenties in the afternoon, Kings Park 41 degrees. It will become mostly cloudy again. Uh Tomorrow is very similar to today. We could have a couple of flurries in the afternoon, not a big deal. And then we have sunshine and warmer weather on the way. Look at our numbers the next few days. They're on the rise, especially Saturday to Sunday, Sunday. We are near 60 degrees, but our weather will slow, go downhill through the day. So at the bus stop in the morning, 28 heading home from school 42. With that passing flurry, you can see that we are dry to wake up. The blue color is showing you that cold weather in place. Three o'clock in the afternoon. We have those thirties to near 40 at night into Friday morning, not as cold thirties. And then we get up into the upper forties nearing 50 by Friday afternoon. It's dry with more of a southwest wind. Saturday is my pick of the week. It will be beautiful, sunny and warm Sunday starts out dry with some sun, the breeze out of the south will pick up through the day. Late afternoon. There may be a very brief shower, but you see most of the rain is just sitting off to our west throughout the day and it will approach late in the evening. This is nine o'clock. We have that rain in New Jersey to New York City on our door up most of the rainfalls overnight. So most of us will be sleeping through it. It could be heavy at times with gusty winds and it's out of here by Monday morning, Monday afternoon will improve, but we'll have some lingering gusty winds. So get ready for a cold night. We see those warming temperatures through the weekend with that rain. Sunday night, Monday morning could be a little bit wet and windy with sunshine.

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Stephanie McNamee, of Holbrook, rescued from burning car in Lake Grove after 3-car crash